February 7, 2011 12:22 pm· Comments Off on Hillary Clinton voices support for Egyptians' legitimate aspirations

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has stressed that the legitimate aspirations of the Egyptian people are met before representatives of the Egyptian government and opposition met on how to ease unrest and restore order in the country, the U.S. State Department said on Sunday.

February 7, 2011 12:22 pm· Comments Off on Roundup: France under pressure in the aftermath of Tunisia unrest

By Zhang Xin

PARIS, Feb. 7 — With Egypt taking over from Tunisia to become the center of unrest in the Arab world, France, the biggest residence for Arab Muslims in Europe, is trying hard to redress its foreign image over allegations of early meddling and inefficient response.

CAIRO, Feb. 7 — Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman Sunday held talks with representatives of political parties including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and protesters, a step to establish a national dialogue and ease the unrest in Egypt that entered its 13th day.

February 7, 2011 12:22 pm· Comments Off on Egypt suspends gas export for one week to Jordan, Syria

SINAI, Egypt, Feb. 7 — Egypt will suspend gas export to Jordan and Syria for a week, until the maintenance of the natural gas pipeline that exploded on Saturday finishes, said an official of the Egyptian Company for Natural Gas.

February 7, 2011 12:22 pm· Comments Off on Over 40 homes destroyed in Western Australian bushfires

SYDNEY, Feb. 7 — More than 40 houses are expected to have been destroyed in bushfires burning out of control in Roleystone, an outer south-eastern suburb of Perth in Western Australia (WA) and hundreds of residents have been evacuated, a senior fire official said on Monday.

TOKYO, Feb. 7 — Japan's foreign exchange reserves declined 0.3 percent in January as rising interest rates in Europe and the U.S. reduced the value of bonds held by the Japanese government, the Finance Ministry said Monday.